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TransMeridian Airlines abruptly halts flights, strands fliers

From staff and wire reports

TransMeridian Airlines, a leisure-oriented airline with schedule service to more than a dozen cities, abruptly stopped flying Thursday, according to media reports.

The entire airline stopped its flights at midnight, an Ohio airport official with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority told ABC Channel 13 of Toledo — one of the cities served by TransMeridian. Brian Schwartz, public affairs director, told the station that he not know why the airline stopped service, though he said high jet-fuel prices have been hitting small carriers especially hard. (Photo gallery: Defunct airlines)

"They (TransMeridian) just announced their restructuring didn't work out. That's all we know," said Ron Owens, operations and maintenance chief at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport — another of TransMerdian's destination.

Customers arriving at Orlando's Sanford International Airport on Friday morning were caught off-guard by the airline's shutdown, reports WFTV Channel 9 of Orlando.

"All of a sudden, I just found out. It said 'see agent' and a security guard told me TransMeridian ceased operations, and I didn't even get a phone call," customer Brianna Bielec told the station.

The Associated Press said TransMeridian officials could not be reached. The company's website made no immediate mention of the suspended operations.